American, Pinay nabbed for child trafficking, sex abuse

August 14, 2014 ·

August 13, 2014 8:32pm

A 60-year-old American national and his Filipina partner were arrested late last week for their alleged involvment in child prostitution and cybersex operations in the country, according to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

In a statement released on Wednesday, the PAOCC said Harold Ronald Paddoc, a Californian resident, and his secretary and bar manager Estela Cortes violated Section 7 of the Republic Act 7610 or the Anti-Child Trafficking Law.

Citing Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., chair of the PAOCC, the statement said the two suspects underwent inquest proceedings after two girls aged 11 and 16 submitted their affidavits detailing how they suffered at the hands of the American national.

“The two victims filed written complaints narrating how they were sexually molested regularly by Paddoc,” said General Santos City Police Office director Senior Superintendent Froilan Quidilla.

He added that the 16-year-old claimed that the American suspect started abusing her sexually when she was just 13 years old, while the 11-year-old said she was only 8 when she was molested.

The PAOCC said they rescued the two minors in Barangay Lagao in General Santos City last Friday. The operation also led to Cortes’ arrest, it added.

Capture

According to the PAOCC, Paddoc managed to escape arrest during the raid, but was caught at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 on Sunday as he was about to board a flight to Bangkok.

The suspect was brought back to General Santos City by PAOCC and National Bureau of Investigation agents. Though Paddoc was set to undergo inquest proceeding, he complained of a heart problem and was rushed to a local hospital for a check-up.

The PAOCC said Paddoc is charged with statutory rape and violation of the anti-cybercrime law in Davao City, where the offenses allegedly took place.

Cybersex firm

Meanwhile, the PAOCC is also conducting a follow-up investigation into what may be an exclusive female escort service racket and cybersex company allegedly managed by Paddoc in Makati City.

“The investigation was triggered by the discovery of pictures of models and ladies in Paddoc’s laptop computer, tablets, hard drives and mobile phones which have been submitted to a forensic investigation. Bio-data sheets of Paddoc’s employees were also recovered in his houses in General Santos City and Davao City last week,” it said. — Amanda Fernandez/BM, GMA News